[nagdu] Guide dog starter age

Wed Feb 3 19:51:04 UTC 2010

I had mobility training and used a cane since I was a toddler. I didn't
always willingly use the cane though that was mostly in elementary
school and because I was told I had to have it on the playground "at all
times". Do you realize how hard it is to climb with a cane in your hand?
And you sure as heck can't swing with a cane in your hand. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Linda Gwizdak
Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 2:15 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog starter age

Hi Albert,
You are correct in that people do these things to kids and make them
feel 
bad about themselves.  Young kids can't be totally responsible for an 
animal's life - I'm talking about very young kids.  They aren't
developed 
enough.  Responsibility is something we need to teach our kids in a
manner 
that they will succeed at.

The young kid getting a service dog learns this with the parent teaching
the 
child how to care for his dog. As the kid matures, he will be able to
take 
on more and more responsibility.

I have nothing against under 16 people getting guide dogs.  But, you'll
have 
to agree with me in that their parents have to be very involved in both
the 
training and the work after the training so the team is successful.
Like I 
said, some people are fairly mature at age 12 and some don't seem to
ever 
get the knack of being responsible for anything at any age!  And 
importantly, the kid has to WANT this for himself - not because the
parent 
desires this for the kid.

What I never seem to understand is why don't blind kids get mobility 
training as pre-schoolers?  They can start as soon as they walk and they
can 
learn orientation skills before a white cane is ever put into their
hands. 
If they get this early, then there's no reason why they can't get a
guide 
dog if they want and qualify for one. When I was school age, blind kids 
didn't get ANY O&M skills training until they were in High School!  A
very 
bad idea!!

I don't know if you grew up with pets or not.  I grew up with cats and
later 
other small animal pets like guinea pigs, turtles, fish, birds.  My Mom
had 
to remind us to feed the animals at times.  She instilled in us that if
we 
were to have pets they must be properly cared for.  If we didn't want to
do 
this, then we'd get rid of the pets.

Then you get the people - of any age - who don't want the responsibility
of 
animal care.  I get mad at the ones who have animals anyway and they
don't 
give the animal what it needs.  Others just won't have pets and I
respect 
that.

So, no, I'm not insulting a kid's intelligence, just don't want anyone
to 
throw a responsibility onto them before the kid is ready or willing to
take 
it on.

BTW, if you take your statements about how society treats kids, magnify
that 
a hundredfold and you get how society treats its' DISABLED and BLIND
kids! 
It's no fun growing up in a society that has very low expectations for
you 
because you have a disability - I know, I was raised in such an attitude
in 
society.  Because of groups like NFB and ACB, that is slowly changing
for 
the young kids of today.

Take care!

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 6:11 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog starter age

> lets just leave it as an option afforded to those mature and
responsible
> individuals to choose regardless of age. Why is it that we as a
society
> always set the bar of expectation low on our youth? As an educator I
find
> this generalization of all children of any ages being innately 
> irresponsible
> disturbing and perhaps reason why so many are having difficulty in 
> schools,
> regardless of their visual acuity. Believe in the abilities of others
and 
> I
> guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one
who is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
> Of Linda Gwizdak
> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 12:40 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog starter age
>
> Hi Marion,
> I agree.  Kids are NOT responsible!  They can't be - not old enough to
> understand the concept!  With service dogs that are given to very
young
> kids, the parents are responsible for the dog's care and safety - CCI
has
> given service dogs to 9 year old kids.  I wonder how that would work
for
> little blind kids and guide dogs?
>
> I knew a woman who got her first guide dog at age 14.  She had proven
that
> she was responsible enough to have one.  I think it has to be on an
> individual basis.  Many 16 year olds aren't responsible.  Some 25 year

> olds
> aren't responsible!
>
> I was 22 when I got my first guide. I grew up having pets and learning
how
> to be responsible for their care.  Of course, my parents were the
ultimate
> ones who had to make sure we took care of the animals! They had to
keep
> reminding us to feed the cats or to change the guinea pig cage.  But
we 
> kids
>
> were pretty good.
>
> Here's what happened when my younger sister didn't care for her pet
dog. 
> My
> Mom kept reminding her to take care of the dog.  My sister had more
fun
> going out with her friends.  This dog, a Husky, kept running off and 
> getting
>
> scooped up by Animal Control. My Mom got tired of "bailing him out of 
> jail".
>
> She warned my sister that if she didn't change her ways and be
responsible
> then the dog will be put up for adoption.  My sister blew my mother
off.
>
> After having to bail the dog out of Animal Control again, she told the
> shelter to keep him - her daughter isn't caring for him and Mom didn't

> want
> a dog in the first place.  A family came along and was looking for a
dog.
> they liked this Husky and my Mom told them that the dog was theirs if
they
> would take good care of him.  Well, my sister came home and found the
dog
> gone! She cried and hollered!  But, she learned a valuable lesson:
Mom
> keeps her word and carries out her threats!  My sister is now a very
> responsible person and owns several dogs, cats and horses!
>
> This Husky was a really nice, sweet dog. But, as Husky owners know,
they
> have to be securely fenced in their yards and they need LOTS of
exercise!
>
> So, guide dog users or pet owners, the bottom line is RESPONSIBILITY
for 
> the
>
> animal's care and well being.
>
> Take good care of all your pups, everyone!
>
> Lyn and Landon
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 4:51 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog starter age
>
>
>> Dear All,
>>    I had a dog - admittedly a pet - at the age of 9. I am not sure
that I
>> was always as attentive to its needs as I should have been! I am
certain
>> that my parents had to pick up quite a bit of my slack in caring for
my
>> dog! I think a service animal for a 9-year-old is definitely too
young! I
>> believe that a responsible 14 year old may be able to handle the
>> responsibility, but not much younger! JMHO!
>> Fraternally yours,
>> Marion
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "d m gina" <dmgina at samobile.net>
>> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 10:15 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog starter age
>>
>>
>>> wow nine?
>>> Now I think that is way to young.
>>> I know if I had a dog at that age my family would have ruined the
dog.
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> --Dar
>>> skype
>>> dmgina23
>>> every saint has a past
>>> every sinner has a future
>>>
>>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
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>>
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